APPG on Complex Needs Responds to NHS Future Forum

News item posted: 19 June 2017

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Complex Needs and Dual
Diagnosis submitted its response to the NHS Future Forum stating
that more needs to be done to ensure those with co-existing complex
needs are no longer left out of the system.

The APPG, a group of interested MPs, Peers and individuals
working in the health and social care field, was set up in 2007
with the aim of ensuring the needs of people with complex needs and
dual diagnosis, loosely defined by their chaotic lifestyle,
complexity of need and co-morbidity of a range of conditions remain
high on the political agenda.

The response set out 6 concerns which need to be addressed if
services are to meet the needs of this group. They included the
need for comunity engagement in the design and delivery of
services; greater accountability for addressing health inequalities
and the fact that GPs lack specialist knowledge to meet the needs
of people with a dual or multi diagnosis.

Lord Adebowale CBE and David Burrowes MP, Co-Chairs of the APPG
say of the response;

"People with complex needs often pose a challenge to
commissioners and providers of services due to the complexity of
their lives and the need for different agencies to work together
around the individual. The lack of integration and understanding in
the current system means people often fall through the gaps in
provision and their needs go unmet.

"The Group's response to the Future Forum raises a number of
concerns that we hope the government considers, but also offers
recommendations as to how the Health Bill can rectify the current
situation and ensure everyone is in receipt of good quality
support.

"People with complex needs should be the litmus test which
proves whether or not actions taken by GP Commissioning Consortia
and Local Authorities to engage with and respond to the populations
they are responsible for, really work."

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